Miles Standish The Puritan Captain

The next morning, refreshed by the repose of the Sabbath, the Pilgrims roseearly to enter upon the arduous duties before them. The prospect of gloomyforests, barren sands and wild ocean, was any thing but cheerful. No alluring spotof grove or meadow or rivulet invited them to land. Weary as they were of theirsmall and crowded bark, it was still preferable to any residence which the shoreoffered them. Still these heroic men indulged in no despondency. The martyr spiritof Elder Brewster animated his whole flock. Just before sailing for the New World,he had said to Sir Edward Sandys:"It is not with us as with other men, whom small things can discourage, or smalldiscontents cause to wish themselves home again. We believe and trust that theLord is with us, unto whom and whose service we have given ourselves, and thathe will graciously prosper our endeavors according to the simplicity of our heartstherein."The captain of the Mayflower was unwilling to leave the harbor at Cape Cod andperil his vessel by coasting about in those unknown seas in search for a suitablelocation for the colony. The Pilgrims had taken the precaution to bring with them alarge shallop, whose framework, but partially put together, was stowed away in thehold of the vessel. They now got out these pieces, and their carpenter commencedvigorously the work of preparing the boat for service. It would require some days toput the shallop in order for a tour of exploration along the shore. There weretwenty-eight females among the emigrants. Eighteen of these were marriedwomen, accompanying their husbands. These females, attended by a strong guardof armed men, were landed Monday morning to wash the soiled clothes which hadaccumulated through the long voyage. The weather was excessively cold, and thewater so shoal that the boat could not come within several rods of the shore. Themen were compelled to wade through the water, carrying the women in their arms;thus with many of them was laid the foundation of serious and fatal sickness.In the meantime, while these labors were being performed, Captain MilesStandish, on Wednesday morning, the 15th of November, set out with a party offifteen men, well armed and provisioned, for a more extended tour of exploration. Itwas deemed rather a hazardous enterprise, as they knew not but that the woodswere filled with savages, lying in ambush. The Mayflower was anchored, it issupposed, about a furlong from the end of what is now called Long Point, and atthat place the men were probably set on shore.Mourt writes: "The willingness of the persons was liked, but the thing itself, inregard to the danger, was rather permitted than approved. And so, with cautiousdirections and instructions, sixteen men were set out, with every man his musket,sword and corslet, under the conduct of Captain Miles Standish, unto whom wasadjoined, for counsel and advice, William Bradford, Stephen Hopkins and EdwardTilley."The exploring party followed along the coast for the distance of about a mile,when they saw six or seven Indians, with a dog, approaching them.